While there are only a few options to choose from, smartwatches may see the most traction the market has ever seen come this holiday season. Among the main contenders, Qualcomm’s Toq is the latest in the ring, and the company recently announced that it would soon become available on December 2nd, right in time for Cyber Monday.
Coming in at $349, the Qualcomm Toq is $50 more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Gear, and offers up support for more Android handsets. For some, the price may be justified, as the Toq ships with wireless charging support and more. That said, the Sony Smartwatch 2 is $150 less than the Toq, which may lack some of the bells and whistles found on the competition but is a well-rounded smartwatch offering that ships with practical features like water resistance.
The smartwatch war is just beginning, whether you have an interest in these accessories or not. Qualcomm’s Toq, while pricey, looks to be a solid offering that will only help further this small market going forward.
A few more Qualcomm Toq features include:
• Mirasol display technology – always on, always visible reflective display technology that utilizes ambient light to enable a crisp and clear viewing experience even in bright sunlight;
• Qualcomm WiPower™ LE technology – enables a hassle-free, true “drop and go” wireless charging experience; and
• Stereo Bluetooth audio experience – first truly wireless stereo headphones that sit outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability (available via the Premium Audio Edition version–details coming early 2014)
It’s beginning to look like smartwatches may indeed begin to take hold in 2014. Now the question is whether you should wait until there are more options for you or jump in now.
If you’re looking to get your hands on a Qualcomm Toq, keep your eyes peeled on the landing page here.
What’s your take on the Toq? Could you justify spending $349 on a smartwatch when you can grab a 16GB Nexus 5 for the same price?
Press release below:
Qualcomm Announces Availability of Qualcomm Toq Smartwatch
Smartwatch Technology Set to Transform Wearable Device Category
SAN DIEGO – November 18, 2013 – Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc., will make its Qualcomm Toq™ (‘talk’) smartwatch available to consumers on Cyber Monday, December 2, 2013. Toq is compatible with Android™ smartphones* and features proprietary Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.’s Qualcomm Mirasol™ display technology, providing an always-on experience with multiple days of battery life and visibility even in bright sunlight. Toq starts at $349.99 and will be available through toq.qualcomm.com.
“The Toq smartwatch showcases key Qualcomm innovations, such as Mirasol always on low power display, AllJoyn interactions and WiPower LE wireless charging, that will define the emerging wearable category,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. “Like a traditional watch, Toq displays information at a glance with no on/off switch. And paired with a smartphone to receive notifications and content, it allows the watch to seamlessly merge our physical and digital lives. Leveraging these and other industry-leading technologies, we and our partners will enable new product opportunities and consumer experiences.”
As previously announced, this limited edition smartwatch will leverage breakthrough technologies necessary to deliver compelling user experiences on wearable devices. Of note, Toq demonstrates the benefits of significant technologies, such as:
• Mirasol display technology – always on, always visible reflective display technology that utilizes ambient light to enable a crisp and clear viewing experience even in bright sunlight;
• Qualcomm WiPower™ LE technology – enables a hassle-free, true “drop and go” wireless charging experience; and
• Stereo Bluetooth audio experience – first truly wireless stereo headphones that sit outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability (available via the Premium Audio Edition version–details coming early 2014)
Using Bluetooth® wireless technology, Toq allows consumers to accept/reject calls, view text messages and meeting alerts, and selectively receive notifications from their smartphone or AllJoyn-enabled devices directly from their wrist. Qualcomm will continue adding functionality to Toq through software upgrades. Consumers also will be armed with preloaded weather and stock applets from AccuWeather and E*TRADE. For more information about Qualcomm Toq, please visit http://toq.qualcomm.com.
*Android 4.0.3 and above, 4.3 Jelly Bean preferred
About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.
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